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Abstract

In this paper, we continue our research on a hybrid narrative-argumentative approach to evidential reasoning in the law by showing the interaction between factual reasoning (providing a proof for ‘what happened’ in a case) and legal reasoning (making a decision based on the proof). First we extend the hybrid theory by making the connection with reasoning towards legal consequences. We then emphasise the role of legal stories (as opposed to the factual stories of the hybrid theory). Legal stories provide a coherent, holistic legal perspective on a case. They steer what needs to be proven but are also selected on the basis of what can be proven. We show how these legal stories can be used to model a shift of the legal perspective on a case, and we discuss how gaps in a legal story can be filled using a factual story (i.e. the process of reasoning with circumstantial evidence). Our model is illustrated by a discussion of the Dutch Wamel murder case.

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Notes

  1. This paper adapts and extends our (Bex and Verheij 2011b).

  2. There exist other formal approaches to coherence, e.g. (Hage 2001; Bench-Capon and Sartor 2001; Thagard 2004).

  3. We assume a rough distinction between “real-world” facts, which tell us something about the (physical) reality (e.g. Francis was angry with Kevin, Francis shot Kevin) and legal facts, facts which tell us something about the legal reality (e.g. Francis' killing of Kevin was premeditated, Francis is punishable for murder).

  4. In practice, there might be more alternative legal accounts in a case and the alternatives will be more specific.

  5. In this paper, we generally assume a Dutch legal framework. Even though the use of legal terms in different jurisdictions has many pitfalls, such terms will be translated more or less literally and where necessary we will briefly sketch the legal context. For example, a relevant distinction here is that the principal is the primary actor of a crime and the accomplice an active participant.

  6. See also David Poole’s work (e.g. (Poole 1998)) for a combination of causal and evidential reasoning.

  7. Factual story schemes are schemes about real-world facts. They are different from legal story schemes, which will be discussed in Sect. 4.2.

  8. This is important, as in criminal cases this sort of evidence is often provided (e.g. a forensic report stating that “the victim’s death was caused by a bullet”).

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Correspondence to Floris Bex.

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Bex, F., Verheij, B. Legal stories and the process of proof. Artif Intell Law 21, 253–278 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10506-012-9137-4

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